A WEYMOUTH charity which takes elderly people around the town on a trishaw is teaming up with a new group to help tackle social isolation.

Des Lochrie of Cycling Without Age will be offering his services to the new Young at Heart group at its next meeting at the Palm House café.

It comes after the group’s first session was hailed a success, with a number of both elderly and young people attending.

Nigel Sims-Duff of the Palm House said: “Our first meet-up went really well. I was nervous about how it was going to be received.

“We had around 30 to 40 children and parents there on the day and around nine to 10 elderly people. It was a lot more people than I was expecting, and everyone was engaging in conversation.

“The elderly women were quite happy to go into one of the rooms and I introduced them to some of the parents, so they could have a chat and play some puzzles and games.

“There were two older gents who didn’t go into the room but stayed in the café. I spoke to a gentleman in his 70s who hadn’t been out since he lost his wife in June. But after talking to him I found out we had something in common, that we had both travelled around India. Hopefully he will come again next time.

“Since then we have had a couple of inquiries on the phone and people asking me when the next session is. One woman asked if we could do it more often and felt that a month was quite a long time to wait.

“I think we will see how the next one goes in March and if there’s support, we would consider putting it on more frequently.

“It’s a great way to improve mental health and overcome social isolation in the community.”

Mr Sims-Duff said he is very pleased that Des is offering his support.

He explained: “He’s offering to bring elderly residents to the Palm House on his trishaw for free at the next session. He says he is happy to pick them up and take them back.”

Mr Lochie said: “At the next session we will be bringing them to and fro."

He added: “They get so much out of it.”

Cycling without Age is a charity run entirely by volunteers. Its aim is to help bring young, old and disabled people living in social isolation back into the community.

The next Young at Heart meeting will take place on Monday, March 2 from 10am to 12pm.